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National Film Board of Canada launches TopDocs, a global FAST channel for premium documentary content. New FAST channel from Canada’s leader in documentary storytelling.

PRESS RELEASE
08/10/2025

October 9, 2025 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is launching TopDocs, a new FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) channel showcasing curated documentary content from its acclaimed catalogue of over 6,000 titles.

The NFB Distribution team will present TopDocs at MIPCOM (October 13–16), with global rights now available.

TopDocs will be available on the Zone-ify app this fall, before expanding soon to other smart TVs and devices. Viewers can explore thousands of hours of documentary programming, anchored by a curated library of at least 150 hours, with 20 hours of new content added monthly.

TopDocs delivers gripping and timely content: from climate change to human rights, NFB documentaries explore real stories that inform, inspire and spark conversation.

TopDocs will launch in English first, followed by a French-language version in the coming months.

Quotes 

“TopDocs is a bold step forward in how we connect global audiences with powerful documentary storytelling. FAST channels are transforming the media landscape, and this launch allows us to bring the richness of the NFB collection to viewers in a fresh, accessible way—wherever they are, and whenever they tune in.”

– Nathalie Bourdon, Director of Distribution and Market Development

“We live in a world where truth itself has become harder to recognize, stories harder to trust—and where the role of inspiring, meaningful storytelling has never mattered more. With TopDocs, the NFB is expanding access to stories that matter, amplifying unique and authentic voices, and creating a new global space for conversations that help shape our world.”

– Suzanne Guèvremont, Government Film Commissioner and NFB Chairperson 

What is a FAST Channel?

A FAST channel—short for free ad-supported streaming television—is a digital streaming service that delivers scheduled, linear programming over the Internet at no cost to viewers. Unlike traditional on-demand platforms, FAST channels mimic the experience of live TV, offering curated content in real time, supported by advertising rather than subscription fees. These channels are accessible across a wide range of connected devices—including smart TVs, streaming sticks, mobile phones, tablets and web browsers—making it easy for audiences to discover and enjoy programming wherever they are.

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Version en français ici.

Media Relations

  • About the NFB

    Founded in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a one-of-a-kind producer, co-producer and distributor of engaging, relevant and innovative documentary and animated films. As a talent incubator, it is one of the world’s leading creative centres. The NFB has enabled Canadians to tell and hear each other’s stories for over eight decades, and its films are a reliable and accessible educational resource. The NFB is also recognized around the world for its expertise in preservation and conservation, and for its rich and vibrant collection of works, which form a pillar of Canada’s cultural heritage. To date, the NFB has produced more than 14,000 works, 7,000 of which can be streamed free of charge at nfb.ca. The NFB and its productions and co-productions have earned over 7,000 awards, including 11 Oscars and an Honorary Academy Award for overall excellence in cinema.